Volunteering for a race outfit
Discussion
Is this a thing? I would love to get involved in motorsports again and would be happy to do any volunteering for a race team. I know my metric torque wrench from an imperial one, a rich mixture from lean and can balance a tyre. I've helped a small rally/race team a few years ago before moving to UK and wasn't entirely useless, or at least they've thought that much - in fact I ended up doing car performance analysis for them and running operations for race weekends. Now I'm not looking for that level of involvement being realistic about my skills and experience, I think I'd be happy just cleaning gravel out of A30 chassis on a Monday evening 
Also I work in IT day to day and this is something I could help with too. What do you think, is there a chance for an enthusiastic fellow to get into this or am I being naive?
Also I work in IT day to day and this is something I could help with too. What do you think, is there a chance for an enthusiastic fellow to get into this or am I being naive?That's a good shout, thanks. I'm based in Leeds so nothing in particular vicinity but Croft, Oulton, Cadwell and Donington all about the same distance. Will have a look when any open test days are scheduled. I was also thinking of going to club races and seeing if anyone would be interested but then again I know how focused people are when a race weekend is on so not sure that'd we the right approach.
Re data logging, I can read a time delta graph or see a temp creep so not entirely clueless, or at least I like to think that
Re data logging, I can read a time delta graph or see a temp creep so not entirely clueless, or at least I like to think that
Edited by Overall D on Saturday 24th February 22:17
stevieturbo said:
Or maybe even volunteering as a marshall at a track and then you'd get to know a lot of the guys/teams to gauge any interest in them needing assistance ?
Donington do free taster days where you get to go round pits, paddock, scrutineering, race control etcCalendar for 2018 is at http://tasterdays.info
My older brother was a transporter driver for a guy that owned a motor auctions around 15 years ago, he raced in FIA historics and had a series of Lotus Cortinas up through to Mustangs over around 10 years. I accompanied my brother who was given the task of moving the bosses cars and setting up the team truck on many trips as gofer, all over Europe, seeing some incredible racing and meeting some great people, such as Gerry Marshall who raced with us for a few seasons (a full story on it own!)
My brother and his son eventually ended up at Ginetta and the hobby became a job.
They both enjoyed their time there immensely before moving out of motorsport for various reasons.
My advice would be to find a privateer in one of the historics and offer your gofer status up in return for board and lodging at the event. We mostly kipped in the team trailer (no hardship at all) and BBQ’d our way through Europe living on the circuits like Monza, Paul Ricard etc. Amazing places at night with the handfuls of crews and old timers getting together for a drink or two and swapping stories with all the cars parked around you in silence after hard days practise.
Sat with all the rocker racers chatting about the racing over the years, Nick Mason, Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea and Rowan Atkinson etc in their capacity as racers / car nuts. Talk was about some mundane car set up or other at this event and was a little bit surreal, nice to be involved in the conversation though! Different personas in racing away from the day job like everyone.
Hobbyist FIA racing, while still serious business, lives at the other end of the scale to F1 and still remains my favourite form of motor sport.
A lot of the teams were still pro-level but there are privateers I’m sure that can use the help if you are happy to work hard and contribute, my focus would be on helping out in the pits with lap boards and tyre / driver change duties where the smaller teams lose out through lack of resource.
Understandably, most owners I know are less keen on gofers touching the engines but are happy to have help with tyre pressure, admin, scrutineering duties and circuit liaison duties etc.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat, most of the generation I worked with have sadly moved on but have fond memories of my times doing the same as a car nut.
Good luck!
(Edited many times as I can neither type nor spell today)
My brother and his son eventually ended up at Ginetta and the hobby became a job.
They both enjoyed their time there immensely before moving out of motorsport for various reasons.
My advice would be to find a privateer in one of the historics and offer your gofer status up in return for board and lodging at the event. We mostly kipped in the team trailer (no hardship at all) and BBQ’d our way through Europe living on the circuits like Monza, Paul Ricard etc. Amazing places at night with the handfuls of crews and old timers getting together for a drink or two and swapping stories with all the cars parked around you in silence after hard days practise.
Sat with all the rocker racers chatting about the racing over the years, Nick Mason, Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea and Rowan Atkinson etc in their capacity as racers / car nuts. Talk was about some mundane car set up or other at this event and was a little bit surreal, nice to be involved in the conversation though! Different personas in racing away from the day job like everyone.
Hobbyist FIA racing, while still serious business, lives at the other end of the scale to F1 and still remains my favourite form of motor sport.
A lot of the teams were still pro-level but there are privateers I’m sure that can use the help if you are happy to work hard and contribute, my focus would be on helping out in the pits with lap boards and tyre / driver change duties where the smaller teams lose out through lack of resource.
Understandably, most owners I know are less keen on gofers touching the engines but are happy to have help with tyre pressure, admin, scrutineering duties and circuit liaison duties etc.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat, most of the generation I worked with have sadly moved on but have fond memories of my times doing the same as a car nut.
Good luck!
(Edited many times as I can neither type nor spell today)
Edited by 996Type on Sunday 25th February 12:09
I am looking for someone to help with pit stops, refuelling etc. this season and also based in the north. We are running 2 Lotus Exiges in 750MC Club Enduro so an extra pair of hands would be great to look after both cars.
Drop me an email or contact me using the number on my website if this is of interest to you.
Cheers
Dan
Drop me an email or contact me using the number on my website if this is of interest to you.
Cheers
Dan
Drumroll said:
Have a word with the guys at Ginetta, whilst they may not want/need you they have a lot of customers who may well appreciate an extra pair of hands.
Don't get too miffed though if all you are to begin with is a glorified tea boy.
That's a good idea, thanks - and I'm quite happy to serve tea as long as there is a smell of 100 octane in the background Don't get too miffed though if all you are to begin with is a glorified tea boy.
996Type said:
My older brother was a transporter driver for a guy that owned a motor auctions around 15 years ago, he raced in FIA historics and had a series of Lotus Cortinas up through to Mustangs over around 10 years. I accompanied my brother who was given the task of moving the bosses cars and setting up the team truck on many trips as gofer, all over Europe, seeing some incredible racing and meeting some great people, such as Gerry Marshall who raced with us for a few seasons (a full story on it own!)
My brother and his son eventually ended up at Ginetta and the hobby became a job.
They both enjoyed their time there immensely before moving out of motorsport for various reasons.
My advice would be to find a privateer in one of the historics and offer your gofer status up in return for board and lodging at the event. We mostly kipped in the team trailer (no hardship at all) and BBQ’d our way through Europe living on the circuits like Monza, Paul Ricard etc. Amazing places at night with the handfuls of crews and old timers getting together for a drink or two and swapping stories with all the cars parked around you in silence after hard days practise.
Sat with all the rocker racers chatting about the racing over the years, Nick Mason, Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea and Rowan Atkinson etc in their capacity as racers / car nuts. Talk was about some mundane car set up or other at this event and was a little bit surreal, nice to be involved in the conversation though! Different personas in racing away from the day job like everyone.
Hobbyist FIA racing, while still serious business, lives at the other end of the scale to F1 and still remains my favourite form of motor sport.
A lot of the teams were still pro-level but there are privateers I’m sure that can use the help if you are happy to work hard and contribute, my focus would be on helping out in the pits with lap boards and tyre / driver change duties where the smaller teams lose out through lack of resource.
Understandably, most owners I know are less keen on gofers touching the engines but are happy to have help with tyre pressure, admin, scrutineering duties and circuit liaison duties etc.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat, most of the generation I worked with have sadly moved on but have fond memories of my times doing the same as a car nut.
Good luck!
(Edited many times as I can neither type nor spell today)
Great story - and an inspirational one at that. I'm not looking at moving into motorsport full-time, at least for now, but helping out, sharing the experience and being a part of something bigger is what I'm looking for. My brother and his son eventually ended up at Ginetta and the hobby became a job.
They both enjoyed their time there immensely before moving out of motorsport for various reasons.
My advice would be to find a privateer in one of the historics and offer your gofer status up in return for board and lodging at the event. We mostly kipped in the team trailer (no hardship at all) and BBQ’d our way through Europe living on the circuits like Monza, Paul Ricard etc. Amazing places at night with the handfuls of crews and old timers getting together for a drink or two and swapping stories with all the cars parked around you in silence after hard days practise.
Sat with all the rocker racers chatting about the racing over the years, Nick Mason, Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea and Rowan Atkinson etc in their capacity as racers / car nuts. Talk was about some mundane car set up or other at this event and was a little bit surreal, nice to be involved in the conversation though! Different personas in racing away from the day job like everyone.
Hobbyist FIA racing, while still serious business, lives at the other end of the scale to F1 and still remains my favourite form of motor sport.
A lot of the teams were still pro-level but there are privateers I’m sure that can use the help if you are happy to work hard and contribute, my focus would be on helping out in the pits with lap boards and tyre / driver change duties where the smaller teams lose out through lack of resource.
Understandably, most owners I know are less keen on gofers touching the engines but are happy to have help with tyre pressure, admin, scrutineering duties and circuit liaison duties etc.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat, most of the generation I worked with have sadly moved on but have fond memories of my times doing the same as a car nut.
Good luck!
(Edited many times as I can neither type nor spell today)
Edited by 996Type on Sunday 25th February 12:09
roddo said:
I know of a couple of guys in the max5 Mazda championship that would love someone who can work data from lap timers.....
Feel free to contact me
Paul
PM sent.Feel free to contact me
Paul
Dan BSCS said:
I am looking for someone to help with pit stops, refuelling etc. this season and also based in the north. We are running 2 Lotus Exiges in 750MC Club Enduro so an extra pair of hands would be great to look after both cars.
Drop me an email or contact me using the number on my website if this is of interest to you.
Cheers
Dan
And another PM sent.Drop me an email or contact me using the number on my website if this is of interest to you.
Cheers
Dan
stevieturbo said:
Or maybe even volunteering as a marshall at a track and then you'd get to know a lot of the guys/teams to gauge any interest in them needing assistance ?
Thought about that - trouble is, there're some wires crossed in my brain somewhere and I can't deal with any medical stuff, especially involving blood - I just pass out, as annoying as that is, so I can't do marshalling unfortunately. For historics and moderns, try speaking to Eddie Farrow at EDF motorsports https://www.edfmotorsports.co.uk
For historics only (and especially minis) try speaking to Andy Harrison - I believe he was recently advertising for a mechanic, but I know he is very welcom8ng and has given a leg up to people such as yourself who are wanting to get back into it - he’s close to you as well in Shipley. http://www.acespeed.co.uk
The only reward I ask for is you help bump start my 100E on the grid!
For historics only (and especially minis) try speaking to Andy Harrison - I believe he was recently advertising for a mechanic, but I know he is very welcom8ng and has given a leg up to people such as yourself who are wanting to get back into it - he’s close to you as well in Shipley. http://www.acespeed.co.uk
The only reward I ask for is you help bump start my 100E on the grid!
Overall D said:
stevieturbo said:
Or maybe even volunteering as a marshall at a track and then you'd get to know a lot of the guys/teams to gauge any interest in them needing assistance ?
Thought about that - trouble is, there're some wires crossed in my brain somewhere and I can't deal with any medical stuff, especially involving blood - I just pass out, as annoying as that is, so I can't do marshalling unfortunately. That said, I don't think it's the route for what you are looking for. Other options like turning up and asking about at a club race, seem more likely to result in what you're looking for (or rodders offer etc)
Overall D said:
stevieturbo said:
Or maybe even volunteering as a marshall at a track and then you'd get to know a lot of the guys/teams to gauge any interest in them needing assistance ?
Thought about that - trouble is, there're some wires crossed in my brain somewhere and I can't deal with any medical stuff, especially involving blood - I just pass out, as annoying as that is, so I can't do marshalling unfortunately. Joining the local motor club will get you lots of contacts .
Motorsport News often carry ads for helpers or race staff .
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